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A. v. ABBOT & F. 0. P. KNAAK. CENTRAL STATION HEATING SYSTEM.

No. 385,399. I Paten e d July 3, 1888.

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1%., 385,399. ater ltedJuly 3,1888.

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A. 'VfABBOT & P. O. P. KNAAK.

CENTRAL STATION HEATING SYSTEM.

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ilrtira STATES ATENT tries.

ARTHUR V. ABBOT, OF OLOSTER, NEW JERSEY, AND FRANK O. F. KNAAK, OF NEYV YORK, ASSIG'NORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE NATIONAL HEATING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CENTRAL-STATION HEATING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,399, dated July 3, 1888.

Application filed October 7, 1887.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ARTHUR V. ABBOT, of Oloster, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, and FRANK G. F. KNAAK, of

the city, county, and State of New York, citizens of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oentrat Station Heating Systems, of which the following is a specification. I

Our invention relates to central-station heatingsystems,and the objcctin viewistoimprove what is now known as the Prall system of circulating hot water for cooking, heating,and steam-power purposes in dwellings and business buildings by so constructing and operatin g said system as to remove certain objections to which the same is now subject, and by providing a double system of supply mains, branch 1nains,'&c., wherehy,if one main or 2 branch main should be broken or its use from any cause rendered impossible, another supplymain may be instantly employed, and the operation of the system rendered continuous while the broken main is being repaired.

With these ends in view our invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the following description reference is to 0 be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which the same letter of reference designates like or equiva lent parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a circulating system provided with ourimprove ments. Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal longitudinal sections of different forms of couplings employed by us. Fig.4 represents a bracket for supporting the mains, the mains being Figs. 5 and 6 represent in section a modification of the form of coupler shown in Figs. 3 and 2,-respectively. Fig. 7 is an enlarged front sectional view of the housing L shown in Fig. l, the coupling-heads being shown in elevation.

Referring to Fig. 1, B represents the boiler or heater; CO, the supply-main; A, a forcepump for compelling a circulation of the heating medium in the supply-main; B, the re- Serial No. 251.708. (No model.)

turn-water tank; D D, the return-water main; A, a force-pump for returning the water from the tank B into the heater; and A, a pump connected with the water-main of the street, by means of which all necessary water is supplied to the heater. All these features are substantially the same as in the Prall system hereinbefore referred to, and form no part of our invention. The single-supply main 0, however, does not extend through the district to be heated, as heretofore in this system, but

connects at 1 and 2 with a double set of supply-mains, G G, as shown, either or both of which may be employed in the operation of the system, as will hereinafter appear.

- E is a coupler cast in a single piece, provided 6 5 with two longitudinal bores, E E, arranged in the same horizontal plane and each of which communicates with a central chamber, E,and two transversebores or passages, 13, arranged in the same horizontal plane as E E, and each of which also communicates with the central chamber, The mains 0 connect with the longitudinal bores E and the branch mains G with the transverse bores 13. The couplerE is also provided with a longitudinal and a transverse bore in the same horizontal plane below those above named, which communicate at the center and with which the return-main D and branch rcturnmain D connect.

The construction and connection of the So coupler and return-main and branch returnmain are thesame as in application No.248,000, filed by us August 29, 1887, and, per .90, form no part of the invention claimed herein. The coupler E is provided with two three-way cocks, F, and two three-way cocks, G, con structed as shown, by means of which the communication of either or both of the supply mains O or branch supply-mains O" with the central chamber, E, may atany time be cut off or regulated, or, if necessary, the eom munication between both of the supply-mains or both of the branch snpply'mains and the central chamber may be cut off by turning a single cook. 5

The means for conveying the circulatingheatconveying medium from the supplymains, or either of them, to the house or other building consist of a six way coupler, K, (shown in Fig.- 1 and in section in Fig. 3,) and supply-pipes c, branch supply or service pipes a, housing L, 8m.

In Fig. 3 is shown a section of the coupler vK, the plane of the section passing through the center of the supply-mains O and supplypipes c. This coupler is provided with two longitudinal bores, here designated by K, each of which communicates at separate points with a central chamber or vertical transverse bore, K, and a transverse bore, K, which also communicates at separate points with said central chamber, K. It will thus be seen that there are, in fact, six bores or passages communicating with the central chamber, K", of this coupler. With four of these bores or passages the different supply-mains O communicate, and by means of the other two a communication between the supply-pipes c and the central chamber is effected. Within the central chamber is a cock, H, having a central cavity and four passages communicatingtherewith. These passages are so constructed and arranged, as will be seen on an examination of Fig. 3, that by turning the cock communication between either of the mains O and either or both of the supply-pipes 0 may be established, or the communication of the supply-pipes c with the central chamber or cavity within the cock may be cut and the communication of all the mains with said central cavity be established; or by still further turning the cock the communication of each of the supply-mains and each of the supply-pipes with the said central cavity may be cut off, and the circulation through said cock prevented. The coupler for the return-main and return-water pipes d used at this point is separate from coupler K and possesses no features of novelty.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of coupler K, in which the bores with which the supplymains 0 connect are provided with a cock on each side of the central chamber, as is also the bore with which the supply-pipe c connects, by means of which it is evident that the circulation between either or all of the mains and supply-pipes may be controlled at pleasure in any manner desired.

Fig. 6 represents a modified form of the coupler E, shown in Fig. 2, in which the bores or passages with which the supply-mains 0 and branch supply-mains G connect are each provided with a cock in each side of the central chamber, E, as shown, by means of which communication between either or all of said mains and branch mains and the said central chamber may be controlled at pleasure.

In Fig. 4 is shown a bracket-support for the supply-mains and return-mains, which may be placed within the conduit along the line of the mains or branch mains wherever desired. This bracket consists of a base, 11, and top H. The base H is provided with an open space, M, having a circular top, as shown, within which is placed the return-main D, which rests upon a roller, m. In the upper part of the base II and lower part of the top H'are formed two passage-ways, h, in the bottom of each of 0 which is a roller, h, and upon each of which rests one of the supply-mains O. l The bracketis secured to the bottom of the conduit in any desired manner. By means of this construction a secure and steady support for the mains is obtained and their easy and ready motion under the process of expansion and contraction provided for. In this system the supplymains O extend throughout the district to be heated and return to the heater, with which communication is established by means of the mains C, the course of the circulating medium being that indicated by the arrows. turn-main D runs parallel with the supplymain, as shown, and each end of the same communicates with the tank B. The mains, branch mains, 850., are put in underground conduits constructed in any desired manner, and are provided .with non-heat-conducting coverings, as heretofore in this system, and at all the main connections, valved couplings, 850., are provided man-holes, by means of which the same may be examined at any time and the operation of the system regulated. All these features, however, .form no part of the present invention, and their illustration and description are not therefore deemed nec- 'essary.

The operation is as follows: The heater B being filled with water and heated *to a high degree-for example, say 332 Fahrenheit, which would give a pressure of about one hundred pounds to the square inch-and be kept at that point, which would be about 120 above the steam-generating point, and if the connection at the ends of the main 0 be open the pressure upon said mains and the mains G and the water therein will be the same as upon the water in the heater, and if the forcepump A be put in motion the water will be forced through the mains G and Oand branch mains O at a temperature about equal to that in the heater. If now the cooks in the supply-pipe c and service-pipes c be opened, the water will be conducted into the building, where it may be converted into steam and used for any desired purpose; or it may be used as hot water for any and all purposes for which the same is adapted, the same as heretofore practiced in this system, or as shown and described in the application filed by us on the 29th day of August, 1887, and hereinbefore referred to. The water, after its temperature has been so reduced as to render it no longer serviceable for heating purposes, or the waterof condensation, in case steam has been used for heating purposes, is conducted back to the return main D by means of the return-pipe d and branch return-pipes d, and then to the tank B, from which it is pumped into the heater B, from which, after being heated to the required temperature, it is again circulated, as in the first instance. a

The converter, radiators, connecting-pipes,

The re- &c., situated within the building by which the heat is utilized, form no part of this invention, and are not therefore shown and described. Each of the service pipes c is designed to supply a separate building and each of the branch return-pipes d to carry thereturn-water from such building back to the street-main, and by this means it will be seen that connection with two or more buildings may be made from but a single street connection. Of course this numbermight be increased, as desired, by simply increasing the number of service-pipes c and return service-pipes d.

The general form and construction and the location of housing L, an enlarged detail seetional view of which is shownin Fig. 7, are the same as in the application hereinbefore referred to. The movable coupling for the sup ply-pipes and its support within the housing are constructed as follows: In the general view the plate designated by O in Fig. 7 is sup ported by brackets attached to the back or rear wall of the housing,or castintegral therewith, while in Fig. 7 itis supported by brackets or lugs 0, formed on the sides of the housing. This is evidently immaterial, as said plate may be retained in position in any desired manner. Mounted upon plate 0 is a longitudinally-grooved support, P, thegroove being shown atp. This support is provided with a pinion or pivot, P, which fits in aper foration or hole in the center of plate 0. The coupling or head R is provided with a flanged base, which forms, in connection with the groovep, a dovetailed joint, the members of which fit loosely, so as to permit of longitudinal movement. By this construction the longitudinal expansion of the main Oand the supply-pipe c is provided for, the support I turning upon its pivot and the base of the coupler moving longitudinally within the groovep. The-holesin the housing L,th rough which the pipes a pass, being larger than the pipes c, admit of the slight necessary movements of said pipes. The coupling for the return pipes d and d and its supportare the same as in the application to which reference has been made.

It is evident that both of the mains 0 may be employed, if necessary, or if'one of said mains should from any cause be broken, or repairs therein be rendered necessary, it may be cut out of the circuit by simply turning one ofthe cocks F or G in couplerE and the cock H in coupler K, the cock to be turned and the position for it to assume being determined by the location of the break or injury to be repaired with reference to the couplers. It will also be seen that by turning the cooks F and G the flow of the water through the coupler E may be controlled in any desired manner, or limited to cit-her of the supply-mains or branch mains, or either one or two of them, or it may be permitted to circulate freely V through each and all of them at pleasure, and

this will also be found to be true of the construction shown in Fig. 3, this construction being such that by means of the single cock H the communication between either of the mains O orseparate portions therof and either of the supply'pipes ,c, or both of them, may be established; or, as before stated, the communication of the suppl-y-pipec with the central chamber or cavity within the cock may be cut, and the communication of all the mains with said central cavity be established, or by turning the cock still farther the communication of each of the supply-mains and each of the supply-pipes with the said central cavity may be cut off and the circulation through said cockprevented.

Of course the same results may be obtained with the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 by turning the various cocks as occasion may require.

Instead of connecting the mains O with the heater by means of mains O, the mains C may be continued and each connected directly with the heater, and a force-pump may be used in connection with each supply-main.

Having fully described our invention and its method of operation, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States the following:

1. In a heating system, the combination of bination of a heater, two supply street-mains,

a force-pump, pipes for conducting the water from the mains into the building to be heated, return-pipes and a return-main for conveying the water after it has been used for heating purposes back to the heater, a coupler having a central chamber with which both of the supply-mains communicate, and valves for controlling the tlow from one main to the other, and whereby either or both of the supplymains may be employed for circulating purposes, substantially as shown and described.

3. A coupler cast in a single piece having a central cavity or chamber, two longitudinal and two transverse bores each in the same plane and each communicating with said cen tral chamber, a longitudinal and a transverse bore arranged in a plane parallel to that of the first-named bores, communicating at their junction, and cocks or valves by which the communication between the said first-mentioned bores and the central chamber is controlled, substantially as shown and described. 4. A coupler cast in a single piece provided with a central cavity or chamber, two longitudinal bores communicating with said central chamber at opposite sides thereof by IOU single opening, and cooks or valves, as F F and G G, by means of which the communication between each or all of the said bores and the central chamber is controlled, substantially as shown and described.

5. The combination, with the supply-mains O O and'the branch mains 0"0, of the coupler provided with the central ehamber,E, the longitudinal bores E E, the transverse bores- E E, and the cocks F F and G G, the construction and arrangement being substantially as described and shown.

6. The combination, with the supply-mains C C, the return-main D, and branch returnmain I), of the coupler cast in a single piece,

provided with a central chamber, and two longitudinal and two transverse bores arranged in the same plane and each communicating with the central chamber, and a longitudinal and transverse bore arranged in a plane parallel with that of the first-named bores, communicating at their junction, and cocks or valves by which the communication between the first-named bores and the central chamber is controlled, substantially as shown and de scribed.

7. In a heating system, the combination of a heater, two supply-mains, means for directing the flow of the heating medium through either or both of said mains, a coupler cast in a single piece provided with a central chamher or passage, two longitudinal bores communicating at separate points with the central chamber or passage, a transverse bore communicating at opposite points with the central chamber or passage, and a valve, H, provided with a central cavity and four passages communicating therewith, the construction being such that communication between either of the longitudinal bores and either of the transverse bores, or both of them, with the central cavity of the cook or valve may be established, or the communication of the transverse bores with the central cavity may be cut and the communication of all the longitudinal bores with the central cavity established, or the communication between each of the longitudinal and each of the transverse bores of the said cavity may be cut off, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a heating system, the combination, with aheater, a double-supply main, and means for directing the flow of the heating medium through either or both branches of said main, of a coupler castin a single piece provided with a central chamber and with two longitudinal bores which communicate at four separate points with the said central chamber and with a transverse bore which communicates at opposite points with said central chamber, and a cock or valve located in said chamber and having a central cavity and four passages communicating therewith, whereby communication between the said longitudinal and trans verse bores and the central cavity of the cook or valve may be controlled, substantially as shown and described.

9. In a heating system, the combination, with a heater and two supply-mains provided with means whereby the flow of the heating medium may be directed through either or both of said mains, of a coupler castin a single piece having a central chamber, two longitudinal and one transverse bore, each of which communicates with the central chamber at two separate points, and a cook or valve having a central cavity and passages communicating therewith, whereby the communication between the said cavity and each of the longitudinal and transverse bores is established, regulated, or prevented, as desired, substantially as shown and described.

10. In a heating system, the combination, with a heater and a double-supply main provided with means for directing the flow of the heating medium through either or both branches thereof, of a coupler havingacentral chamber, two longitudinal bores extending from each end thereof and communicating with the central chamber at separate points, a transverse bore communicating with the said chamber at'separate points, and means for controlling the communication between said chamber and each of said bores, substantially as shown and described.

ll. In a heating system, the combination, with a heater and a donble-supply main providedwith means for directing the flow of the heating medium through either or both of the branches thereof, of a coupler, K, having the longitudinal bores K K and central chamber, K, of the cock or valve H, having a central cavity and passages communicating therewith, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a heating system, the "combination, with a heater,thesupply-mains O O, and means for directing the flow of the heating medium through either or both of said mains, of the coupler K, having the bores K K, the cerr tral chamber, K, and cock H, having a ceutral cavity and passages communicating therewith, and the pipes for conducting the heating medium into the building or buildings where heat is required, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a hot-water circulating system, the combination, with the heater and the supplymains G G, of a bracket for shpporting the mains, composed of a base, H, and top H, having openings M and h h, substantially as shown and described.

14. In a heating system, the combination of a heater, double supply mains C O, and a bracket for supporting the street-mains of a hot-water-circulating system, consisting of a base, H, and top H, said bracket being provided with openings M and h h and rollers m and h 71, substantially as shown and described.

15. The combination of the heater, the

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double-supply mains, the return-main, and the bracket provided with the openings M andh 71., substantially as shown and described.

16. The combination, with the heater and supply-mains, of a coupler provided with a flanged base, as p, a perforated plate, as O, and a grooved support, 1?, provided with a pinion or pivot, the parts being loosely connected, substantially as shown and described.

17. The combination, with the heater and supply-mains, of the supply-pipes c, a perforated plate, 0, a. grooved support, P, and a coupler, R, provided with a flanged base, R, substantially as shown and described.

18. The combination, with the heater and supp1y-mains, of the housing L, the supplymain, the plate 0, the pivoted support grooved to receive the dovetailshank of the coupler,

the supply-pipe, and the coupler, substantially as shown and described.

19. The combination, with the heater and supply-main, of a coupler provided with a flanged base and a pivoted support provided I with a. dovetail groove, the flanged base of the I coupler being movable within the groove of the support, substantially as shown and described.

20. In a heating system, the combination of a heater, two supply-mains leading from and returning to the heater, a force-pump,and pipes for conducting the heating medium from the supply-mains to the building to beheated, said mains being in communication and provided 

